Year 10, 11 and 12 students had the opportunity to raise funds and sleep out in support of SAHSSI. Students arrived at the Edmund Rice Centre Foyer at 7pm last Thursday night, they built sleeping shelters out of recycled cardboard and had the opportunity to engage in fellowship with their peers and hear from SAHSSI Business Development Manager, Gillian Vickers. Whilst the excitement and novelty of sleeping out provided the participants with a fun experience, the deeper message about SAHSSI’s much needed work supporting homeless women and their families who have been displaced through domestic violence hit home. There were definitely some tired bodies around at the wrap-up breakfast on Friday morning, but the memories and lessons from the experience will continue to bear fruit for those who participated.

Please read the following reflections from two of our Year 11 students who were in attendance last Thursday.

Patrick Sirianni – 2023 Social Justice Vice-Prefect:
“Building of cardboard shelters enabled us to simulate the challenges faced by homeless women whose circumstances force them to make shelters out of little. We then engaged with a special presentation from the SAHSSI staff member Gillian Vickers, who provided us with valuable insight into how the organisation operates and why their work is so needed in our community. The participants also fundraised much needed funds for SAHSSI to continue their great work in support of homeless and displaced victims of domestic and family violence. Collectively ERC students raised over $1750, with fellow Year 11 student Marcus Henriques-Thakur raising over $350 himself.”

Zane Al-Sahli – 2023 ERA for Change Vice-Prefect:
“As well as listening to the guest speaker, we had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including cardboard shelter building, dodgeball, basketball and watching an inspirational movie before wrapping up for the night. The following morning included a bacon and egg roll, cooked generously by our College staff. Overall this event was both fun and educational. It highlighted the struggles that many women and children endure in our local community and empowered us students to advocate and make a difference for these women and families within our immediate sphere of influence. Thank you to all the staff and students who organised and participated in the sleepout.”

Mrs Hurley
Director of Identity